Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-08-04
HE WOULDN'T HEAR.

the First Time He Was Called.
Robin was the d0arest, sweetest, bes
little laddie that ever lived At least
grandpa and grandma, Aunt Mel
Sister Grace and Cousin Lou said 81
on an average of dozen times every
day. and mamma was not inclined tt
dispute them.
! Occasionally, however, there were
times when the aforesaid Robin was
not quite so dear and sweet and good
as usual.
There was great deal to be done al
Robins house. and even he was ex-
/ pected to help some. To be sure,
there was not much that he could do.
but he could take steps" as mamma
called it, and run errands.
You would naturally think that he
would be glad to do as much as that
for his dear, loving. hard-worked
mother, wouldn't you? But I am sorry
to say that, though Robin would trot
from morning till night about his play
OF on his own errands. he had a very
great aversion to- taking steps for any
one else.
1t made his mother feel very badly
indeed.
Il can not bear to think that my
little Robin is selfish she said to
papa, "but it certainly looks like it.
He isn't really willing to do any thing
for any body but himself
eve shall have to teach him les
son in some way, = said papa.
The next morning Robin was out in
| the wood-shed with Eddie Burt. play
| ing Daniel in the lions den.'' An
empty coal-bin was the den, and Bruno
| was the lion. e ts
Mamma was, in the kitchen. baking,
and through the open door every now
and then came fragrant whiffs that
would have. begui1ed Robin in, only
for the fear of being drafted into serv-
ice.
.'Oh. dear!'' exclaimed mamma, as
she was stirring her spice cake Robin
was extremely fond Of spice cake, by
the way ooh, dear! my raisins
aren't picked. over, and / haven MT a
minute to spare. !"
'Cal Robin to do it, ~ said papa,
who happened to be i'm the kitchen
just them. '.He can do it well enough.
and as he will consume as much of
the cake as any one, he had better
lend hand toward the, making"
Robin, who heard every word of the
conversation, looked at Eddie in dis
may.
You cut and run somewhere quick.
and then you won't hear her if she
does call, and I'll runs home few
minutes whispered Eddie fro nj the
den.
Half a, minute later. EiI1ie might
have been seen slipping over the
fence, and Robin whisked up the
stairs into, the little she'd chamber.
'Robin!" called mamma, coming to
the kitchen door.
But no Robin answered
''Rob-in!" she Called again and
again.
as There. was no response.
Then papa came out.
..Robertp' he said, with a very de-
cided ring to his voice.
But there was no answer to this call.
either; as Robin was,at that moment
crouehed upon the floor, with both
fingers, in his ears and am old blanket
pulled tightly over his head.
PapaFs face was, very grave. He
knew perfectly we'll that Robin had
BEEN there but moment ago, and he
had a shrewd suspicion as to the cause
Of his sudden disappearance.
ae@ could not have. gotten out of the
door. without being. seem, therefore, he
must be up stairs.
Papa went to,the foot Of the. stairs.
."'Robinr' he called, very distinctly
and clearly-so. clearly that that
Young gentleman, was almost afraid.
that he heard him.. in spite of his pre-
cautions.
However, as he, was not in the habit
of answering the first time, eren
ander ordinary circumstances, he did
not think it best correspond now, unden.
these rather extraordinary ones.
Il guess, Ill have to answer next
time, though be thought. ..if Z think
! hear"
But papasdid not call again; instead
he went quickly MP the stairs, aaditurn-
ing the keys which was on the ontsidsA
went back again
Robins, hesl came out from, uader
his blanket and his fingers from ont
his ears in a twinkling
Thsre was no mistaking the facx--he
was a prisoner. .s
Bat what could he doe
Somehow. Robin felt quite sure in
his guilty little heart that papa knew
be was there, and why. and had locked
him in purposely.
May be he viii come and let me out
pretty soon, he said. going over by
the door and listening.
But though he could hoar them going
back and forth. there was no sign Of
any ones coming to his rescue.
Oh. dear. how very tiresome it was
mp there! He began to be very hnn-
CRY, too. It must be most dinnor-time.
and that. thought encouraged him
they would let him out then. surely.